It’s become common for anti-trans social media users to quickly spread false or unverified claims about the gender identities of shooting suspects.

Summary

Following a school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, false claims that the 15-year-old female shooter was transgender spread widely on X (formerly Twitter).

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and conservative accounts amplified these baseless speculations, with posts collectively garnering millions of views.

Police later confirmed no evidence linking the shooter to transgender identity.

Experts and advocates condemned the spread of anti-trans narratives, which they say distract from addressing gun violence and foster fear in LGBTQ communities.

Similar false claims have arisen after prior shootings, despite no factual basis for such connections.